What is the book of Leviticus?
The Leviticus book is primarily concerned with priests (members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties. Although Leviticus is basically a book of laws, it also contains some narrative text.
Leviticus, (Latin: “of the Levites”), Hebrew Wayiqra, third book of the Latin Vulgate Bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book (or manual) primarily concerned with priests (members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties. Although Leviticus is basically a book of laws, it also contains some narrative text (chapters 8–9, 10:1–7, 10:16–20, and 24:10–14).
The book is usually divided into five parts: sacrificial laws (chapters 1–7); the inauguration of the priesthood and laws governing their office (chapters 8–10); laws for ceremonial purity (chapters 11–16); laws governing the people’s holiness (chapters 17–26); and a supplement concerning offerings to the sanctuary and religious vows (chapter 27).
Leviticus, (Latin: “of the Levites”), Hebrew Wayiqra, third book of the Latin Vulgate Bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book (or manual) primarily concerned with priests (members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties. Although Leviticus is basically a book of laws, it also contains some narrative text (chapters 8–9, 10:1–7, 10:16–20, and 24:10–14).
The book is usually divided into five parts: sacrificial laws (chapters 1–7); the inauguration of the priesthood and laws governing their office (chapters 8–10); laws for ceremonial purity (chapters 11–16); laws governing the people’s holiness (chapters 17–26); and a supplement concerning offerings to the sanctuary and religious vows (chapter 27).
What is the history of the Leviticus book?
Scholars agree that Leviticus belongs to the Priestly (P) source of the Pentateuchal traditions. This material is dated according to one theory to the 7th century BCE and is regarded as the law upon which Ezra and Nehemiah based their reform.
Older material, however, is preserved in P, particularly the “Holiness Code” (chapters 17–26), dating from ancient times.
Because the closing chapters of the preceding book (Exodus) and the opening chapters of the following book (Numbers) are also P materials, the existence of Leviticus as a separate book is presumably a secondary development.
This hypothesis suggests that Leviticus properly belongs to a larger literary unit that is variously understood to include the first four, five, or six books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
Older material, however, is preserved in P, particularly the “Holiness Code” (chapters 17–26), dating from ancient times.
Because the closing chapters of the preceding book (Exodus) and the opening chapters of the following book (Numbers) are also P materials, the existence of Leviticus as a separate book is presumably a secondary development.
This hypothesis suggests that Leviticus properly belongs to a larger literary unit that is variously understood to include the first four, five, or six books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
What are the laws of Leviticus?
The cultic and priestly laws presented in Exodus are expanded to take up virtually the whole of Leviticus, the Latin Vulgate title for the third of the Five Books of Moses, which may be translated the Book (or Manual) of Priests. With one exception (chapters 8–10), the narrative portions are brief connective or introductory devices to give an ostensibly narrative framework for the detailed lists of precepts that provide the book’s content.
The source of Leviticus, both for the legal and narrative passages, is definitely identified as P; it is the only book in the so-called Tetrateuch to which a single source is attributed. Apparently, the book consists of materials from various periods, some of them going back to the time of Moses, which were put together at a later date, possibly during or after the Babylonian Exile. Recent scholarship tends to emphasize the ancient origin of much of the material, as opposed to the previous tendency to ascribe a late, even post-exilic date.
Despite its content and its dry, repetitive style, many interpreters caution against taking Leviticus as merely a dull, spiritless manual of priestly ritual, holding that it is strictly inseparable from the ethical emphasis and spiritual fervour of the religion of ancient Israel. It is in Leviticus that the so-called law of love, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” first appears. The rituals set forth drily here probably presuppose an inward state in offering to God, as well as humanitarian and compassionate ethics.
The source of Leviticus, both for the legal and narrative passages, is definitely identified as P; it is the only book in the so-called Tetrateuch to which a single source is attributed. Apparently, the book consists of materials from various periods, some of them going back to the time of Moses, which were put together at a later date, possibly during or after the Babylonian Exile. Recent scholarship tends to emphasize the ancient origin of much of the material, as opposed to the previous tendency to ascribe a late, even post-exilic date.
Despite its content and its dry, repetitive style, many interpreters caution against taking Leviticus as merely a dull, spiritless manual of priestly ritual, holding that it is strictly inseparable from the ethical emphasis and spiritual fervour of the religion of ancient Israel. It is in Leviticus that the so-called law of love, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” first appears. The rituals set forth drily here probably presuppose an inward state in offering to God, as well as humanitarian and compassionate ethics.
What is Mount Sinai?
Mount Sinai is renowned as the principal site of divine revelation in Jewish history, where God is purported to have appeared to Moses and given him the Ten Commandments.
Mount Sinai, also called Mountain of Moses or Mount Hareh, Hebrew Har Sinai, Arabic Jabal Mūsā, granitic peak of the south-central Sinai Peninsula, Janūb Sīnāʾ (South Sinai). Mount Sinai is renowned as the principal site of divine revelation in Jewish history, where God is purported to have appeared to Moses and given him the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). According to Jewish tradition, not only the decalogue but also the entire corpus of biblical text and interpretation was revealed to Moses on Sinai.
The mountain is also sacred in both the Christian and Islamic traditions. Because scholars differ as to the route of the Israelite exodus from Egypt and the place-names in the scriptural account cannot be identified in terms of present sites, a positive identification of the biblical Mount Sinai cannot be made. Mount Sinai itself, however, has long been accepted as the site in the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Mount Sinai, also called Mountain of Moses or Mount Hareh, Hebrew Har Sinai, Arabic Jabal Mūsā, granitic peak of the south-central Sinai Peninsula, Janūb Sīnāʾ (South Sinai). Mount Sinai is renowned as the principal site of divine revelation in Jewish history, where God is purported to have appeared to Moses and given him the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). According to Jewish tradition, not only the decalogue but also the entire corpus of biblical text and interpretation was revealed to Moses on Sinai.
The mountain is also sacred in both the Christian and Islamic traditions. Because scholars differ as to the route of the Israelite exodus from Egypt and the place-names in the scriptural account cannot be identified in terms of present sites, a positive identification of the biblical Mount Sinai cannot be made. Mount Sinai itself, however, has long been accepted as the site in the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
What does "Leviticus" mean?
The word “Leviticus” means “concerning the Levites.”
Leviticus, (Latin: “of the Levites”), third book of the Latin Vulgate Bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book (or manual) primarily concerned with priests (members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties.
A Levite was a member of the clan of Levi, the group from which one family was selected by God to oversee the administration of all the religious laws.
Some of the laws in Leviticus were for the Levites in particular because the laws were instructions on how to conduct worship of God.
Leviticus, (Latin: “of the Levites”), third book of the Latin Vulgate Bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book (or manual) primarily concerned with priests (members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties.
A Levite was a member of the clan of Levi, the group from which one family was selected by God to oversee the administration of all the religious laws.
Some of the laws in Leviticus were for the Levites in particular because the laws were instructions on how to conduct worship of God.
Who was Aaron?
Aaron was a son of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi, three years older than his brother Moses. Aaron, (flourished 14th century BCE), the traditional founder and head of the Israelite priesthood, who, with his brother Moses, led the Israelites out of Egypt.
The figure of Aaron as it is now found in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, is built up from several sources of traditions. In the Talmud and Midrash (Jewish commentative and interpretive writings), he is seen as the leading personality at the side of Moses. He has appeared in different roles in Christian tradition.
Aaron was a son of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi, three years older than his brother Moses. He acted together with his brother in the desperate situation of the Israelites in Egypt and took an active part in the Exodus, their liberation from bondage there. Although Moses was the actual leader, Aaron acted as his “mouth.”
The two brothers went to the pharaoh together, and it was Aaron who told him to let the people of Israel go, using his magic rod in order to show the might of YHWH (God).
When the pharaoh finally decided to release the people, YHWH gave the important ordinance of the Passover, the annual ritual remembrance of the Exodus, to Aaron and Moses.
But Moses alone went up on Mount Sinai, and he alone was allowed to come near to YHWH. Moses later was ordered to “bring near” Aaron and his sons, and they were anointed and consecrated to be priests “by a perpetual statute.” Aaron’s sons were to take over the priestly garments after him. Aaron is not represented as wholly blameless.
It was he who, when Moses was delayed on Mount Sinai, made the golden calf that was idolatrously worshiped by the people.
The figure of Aaron as it is now found in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, is built up from several sources of traditions. In the Talmud and Midrash (Jewish commentative and interpretive writings), he is seen as the leading personality at the side of Moses. He has appeared in different roles in Christian tradition.
Aaron was a son of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi, three years older than his brother Moses. He acted together with his brother in the desperate situation of the Israelites in Egypt and took an active part in the Exodus, their liberation from bondage there. Although Moses was the actual leader, Aaron acted as his “mouth.”
The two brothers went to the pharaoh together, and it was Aaron who told him to let the people of Israel go, using his magic rod in order to show the might of YHWH (God).
When the pharaoh finally decided to release the people, YHWH gave the important ordinance of the Passover, the annual ritual remembrance of the Exodus, to Aaron and Moses.
But Moses alone went up on Mount Sinai, and he alone was allowed to come near to YHWH. Moses later was ordered to “bring near” Aaron and his sons, and they were anointed and consecrated to be priests “by a perpetual statute.” Aaron’s sons were to take over the priestly garments after him. Aaron is not represented as wholly blameless.
It was he who, when Moses was delayed on Mount Sinai, made the golden calf that was idolatrously worshiped by the people.
Who were the Levites?
Levite, members of a group of clans of religious functionaries in ancient Israel who apparently were given a special religious status, conjecturally for slaughtering idolaters of the golden calf during the time of Moses (Ex. 32:25–29).
They thus replaced the firstborn sons of Israel who were “dedicated to the service of the Lord” for having been preserved from death at the time of the first Passover (Ex. 12).
Inconclusive evidence has been presented to show that the Levites originally constituted a secular tribe that was named (some say only symbolically) after Levi, the third son born to Jacob and his first wife, Leah. If the Levites were a secular tribe, scholars generally believe it no longer existed when the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land; for the Levites, unlike the 12 tribes of Israel, were not assigned a specific territory of their own but rather 48 cities scattered throughout the entire country (Numbers 35:1–8).
Other scholars, however, argue that it would have been improper for the Levites to possess land, even if they were a secular tribe, for as priestly officials “the offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance” (Joshua 13:14). The history of the Levites is further obscured by the possibility that their ranks may have included representatives of all the tribes.
They thus replaced the firstborn sons of Israel who were “dedicated to the service of the Lord” for having been preserved from death at the time of the first Passover (Ex. 12).
Inconclusive evidence has been presented to show that the Levites originally constituted a secular tribe that was named (some say only symbolically) after Levi, the third son born to Jacob and his first wife, Leah. If the Levites were a secular tribe, scholars generally believe it no longer existed when the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land; for the Levites, unlike the 12 tribes of Israel, were not assigned a specific territory of their own but rather 48 cities scattered throughout the entire country (Numbers 35:1–8).
Other scholars, however, argue that it would have been improper for the Levites to possess land, even if they were a secular tribe, for as priestly officials “the offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance” (Joshua 13:14). The history of the Levites is further obscured by the possibility that their ranks may have included representatives of all the tribes.
What is the Tabernacle?
Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary constructed by Moses as a place of worship for the Hebrew tribes during the period of wandering that preceded their arrival in the Promised Land.
Tabernacle, Hebrew Mishkan, (“dwelling”), in Jewish history, the portable sanctuary constructed by Moses as a place of worship for the Hebrew tribes during the period of wandering that preceded their arrival in the Promised Land. The Tabernacle no longer served a purpose after the erection of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem in 950 BC.
The entire Tabernacle complex—whose specifications were dictated by God, according to the biblical account—consisted of a large court surrounding a comparatively small building that was the Tabernacle proper.
The court, enclosed by linen hangings, had the shape of two adjacent squares. In the centre of the eastern square stood the altar of sacrifice for burnt offerings; nearby stood a basin holding water used by the priests for ritual ablutions. The corresponding position in the western square was occupied by the ark of the Law situated in the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle was constructed of tapestry curtains decorated with cherubim. The interior was divided into two rooms, “the holy place” and “the most holy place” (Holy of Holies). The outer room, or “holy place,” contained the table on which the bread of the Presence (shewbread) was placed, the altar of incense, and the seven-branched candelabrum (menorah).
The inner room, or Holy of Holies, was thought to be the actual dwelling place of the God of Israel, who sat invisibly enthroned above a solid slab of gold that rested on the Ark of the Covenant and had a cherub at each end. This Ark was a gold-covered wooden box containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
Tabernacle, Hebrew Mishkan, (“dwelling”), in Jewish history, the portable sanctuary constructed by Moses as a place of worship for the Hebrew tribes during the period of wandering that preceded their arrival in the Promised Land. The Tabernacle no longer served a purpose after the erection of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem in 950 BC.
The entire Tabernacle complex—whose specifications were dictated by God, according to the biblical account—consisted of a large court surrounding a comparatively small building that was the Tabernacle proper.
The court, enclosed by linen hangings, had the shape of two adjacent squares. In the centre of the eastern square stood the altar of sacrifice for burnt offerings; nearby stood a basin holding water used by the priests for ritual ablutions. The corresponding position in the western square was occupied by the ark of the Law situated in the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle was constructed of tapestry curtains decorated with cherubim. The interior was divided into two rooms, “the holy place” and “the most holy place” (Holy of Holies). The outer room, or “holy place,” contained the table on which the bread of the Presence (shewbread) was placed, the altar of incense, and the seven-branched candelabrum (menorah).
The inner room, or Holy of Holies, was thought to be the actual dwelling place of the God of Israel, who sat invisibly enthroned above a solid slab of gold that rested on the Ark of the Covenant and had a cherub at each end. This Ark was a gold-covered wooden box containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
*Academic studies (Britannica) of the translated book of Leviticus. Doesn't replace the scientific discoveries of code2GOD.
*GOD's messaging to humanity is mathematically encoded in each word and verse within the original Bible. Can you find God's messaging in the 39 books' stats?
Book of Leviticus STATS
- Words: 11,950 (3.912% of Word Of God of total 305,490 words)
- Letters: 44,790 (3.742% of Word Of God of total 1,197,000 letters)
- Verses: 859 (3.702% of Word Of God of total 23,206 verses)
- code2GOD value: 3,137,240 of 78,091,262
Shortest and longest verses in Leviticus
Shortest verse: 12 letters in Leviticus 11:15את כל ערב למינוEvery raven after his kind;
Longest verse: 116 letters in Leviticus 10:6ויאמר משה אל אהרן ולאלעזר ולאיתמר בניו ראשיכם אל תפרעו ובגדיכם לא תפרמו ולא תמתו ועל כל העדה יקצף ואחיכם כל בית ישראל יבכו את השרפה אשר שרף יהוהAnd Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.
Longest verse: 116 letters in Leviticus 10:6ויאמר משה אל אהרן ולאלעזר ולאיתמר בניו ראשיכם אל תפרעו ובגדיכם לא תפרמו ולא תמתו ועל כל העדה יקצף ואחיכם כל בית ישראל יבכו את השרפה אשר שרף יהוהAnd Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.
Additional STATS in book of Leviticus
- Start word: ויקרא
- Last word: סיני
- Middle letter: In position 22395 is ח, in position 22396 is רLeviticus 14:50
- Middle word: In position 5975 is בבית, In position 5976 is יכבסLeviticus 14:47
Original letter ranking and appearance
The original Bible was created using the 22 Hebrew letters. See Bible FAQ.
- א4055 ב2408 ג387 ד916 ה4666 ו4508 ז424 ח1120 ט492 י4015 כ1810 ל3087 מ3450 נ1970 ס238 ע1569 פ689 צ478 ק803 ר2526 ש2280 ת2899
- 4,666 ה4,508 ו4,055 א4,015 י3,450 מ3,087 ל2,899 ת2,526 ר2,408 ב2,280 ש1,970 נ1,810 כ1,569 ע1,120 ח916 ד803 ק689 פ492 ט478 צ424 ז387 ג238 ס
- 10.42% ה10.06% ו9.05% א8.96% י7.70% מ6.89% ל6.47% ת5.64% ר5.38% ב5.09% ש4.40% נ4.04% כ3.50% ע2.50% ח2.05% ד1.79% ק1.54% פ1.10% ט1.07% צ0.95% ז0.86% ג0.53% ס
Source: Original Bible Foundation
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